Kano govt. pays NECO fees for 29,031 students, as exam body demands N 1.5bn outstanding

By Muhammed Yakubu On Jun 27, 2022

APC ,suspension, national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, — Former Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje

Kano government says it has paid about N336 million as 2022 National Examination Council (NECO) fees for 29, 031 students in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, made the disclosure to newsmen on Monday in Kano.

Garba was reacting to a media report insinuating that the state students might miss the 2022 NECO examination over the government’s inability to settle their examination fees.

He said the list included 15,313 students that had 9 credits from its qualifying examination, 1,018 students living with disabilities.

“As well as, 7,300 for Special Intervention which is basically for Girl Child Education, and local government councils paid for 5,400 students”

However, sources informed Solacebase that the examination body had vowed that the students from Kano would not be allowed to write the annual examination due to the huge debt of about N1.5bn as it has commitment to fulfil on the examination that include payment to printers and other logistics.

Confirming the development on Sunday, the state Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Hajia, Lauratu Ado told Solacebase that the state government is already in discussion with NECO.

She said the state government had paid NECO N356m last week but the examination body just insisted on payment of N700m before the students of the state would be allowed to participate in the examination.

‘’ We are surprise with the stand of NECO because apart from the payment of N356m, the state government also wrote a commitment letter to the body stating that N50m would be release to the examination body monthly, said the Permanent Secretary.

‘’ The examination body did not inform us that it did not accept our commitment and the payment of the N356m not until yesterday. Since then we have being in discussion with NECO so as to address the issue.’’

Hajia Lauratu said the state government has released N300m which the ministry would have paid today but the examination body is yet to open its portal, but hopefully the money would be paid on Monday.

Also, NECO in a statement issued on Saturday by its Spokesman, Azeez Sani said the SSCE examination would commence on Monday, June 27th .

Garba also said that the examination was not starting today (Monday).

“Today is the “Test Interpretation Practical”, which is only for teachers to come up with modalities for the practical exams,” he said.(NAN)